Description
Object description
British NCO served as navigator with 214 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1943-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Bristol, GB, 1922-1940. Aspects of period with Home Guard in Bristol, GB, 1940-1941: employment with Air Ministry; description of training with Home Guard; weapons; tactical exercises; opinion of effectiveness of Home Guard; volunteered for RAF, 10/1941. Aspects of training with RAF in GB and South Africa, 1941-1943: description of basic training in Torquay; drill; Morse code; selected for air crew; posted to No 5 Initial Training Wing; description of training as navigator at Eastbourne College; sent to South Africa on Empire Training Scheme. 1942; description of voyage to South Africa aboard troopship; conditions aboard ship; food; accommodation; arrived at reception camp in Littletown; opinion of NCO instructors; story of being selected as navigator; posted to No. 44 Flying Training School; description of Anson and hand-cranked undercarriage; lectures and classes; operational exercise including locating U-boats; story of voyage back to GB and role manning gun, 1/1943; battle training course, Whitley Bay; physical training; posted to Perth Elementary Flying School, Scotland and flying training on Tiger Moth; posted to No 3 Advanced Flying Unit, Staverton; cross country and night exercises; posted to No 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcot and crewed up; posted to Stirling Heavy Conversion Unit, Woolfox Lodge; posted to 513 Sqdn RAF; posted to 214 Sqdn RAF. Aspects of operations as navigator with 214 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1943-1944: description of mining and bombing operations including VI sites in Germany and France; story of hitting FIDO on take-off at Downham Market; posted to RAF Scuthorpe and training with 807 Sqdn US Army Air Force.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with Americans on base; description of various anti-radar devices including Window, Carpet and AVC; number of aircraft in bombing raids; description of evasive manoeuvres during combat and experiencing weightlessness; armaments; description of role in attack on German battleships Prince Eugen and Lutzow; premonition of death; description of escape kit and procedure for baling out; description of sanitary facilities in aircraft including Elsen toilet; social life; method of evading searchlights; posted to Lichfield as navigational instructor at end of tour, 1944-1945; posted to India, 1945. Aspects of period with RAF in India, 1945: description of duties as Warrant Officer with maintenance unit, Madras; question of rank and pay; story of parachutes; demobilised and returned to GB. Various memories of crew members.